No.  990 


M\' 


COME  facts 
about  gifts 
for  Missions 
during  the  year 

1912-1913 


By  George  Gordon  King 

Treasurer 


treasurer’s  Annual  Statement 

October  10th,  1913. 


Right  Reverend  Fathers  and  Gentlemen  of  the 
House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies: 

In  the  middle  of  September  word  was  sent  to  the 
Churches  that  from  all  sources  of  income,  including  using 
undesignated  legacies,  sufficient  money  had  been  received 
to  meet  the  net  appropriations  of  the  Board  for  the  year,  and 
that  no  further  increase  to  the  deficit  had  been  made,  but 
on  the  contrary  a  slight  decrease  had  been  achieved.  Only 
five  times  in  the  past  sixteen  years  (including  this  year)  has 
this  been  the  case. 

The  contributions  for  the  past  year  applying  upon  the  ap¬ 
propriations  of  the  Board  and  classified  in  the  usual  man¬ 
ner  are: 


Parishes . $  645,635.41 

Individuals .  85,296.20 

Sunday-schools .  175,734.71 

Woman’s  Auxiliary .  92,477.33 

Junior  Auxiliary .  19,943.40 

Woman’s  Auxiliary  United  Offering  .  .  85,454.09 

Interest .  82,800.71 

Miscellaneous  sources .  6,161.49 


Total . $1,193,503.34 

These  show  an  increase  of  nearly  $11,000  over  the  contri¬ 
butions  of  last  year,  and  an  increase  of  $208,453.54  over 
similar  contributions  of  three  years  ago.  It  is  good  to  realize 
that  this  year’s  receipts  also  show  an  increase  of  $555,303.97 
over  those  of  ten  years  ago,  and  $835,256.79  over  those  of 


twenty  years  ago,  when  the  offerings  were  $638,199.37  and 
$358,246.55  respectively.  Each  decade  has  seen  its  con¬ 
tribution  nearly  doubled. 

We  began  the  year  September  1st,  1912, 

with  a  deficit  of . $  197,633.12 

The  net  appropriations  for  the  year  were  1,333,377.65 

Making  the  sum  needed  for  the  year  .  $1,531,010.77 
The  contributions  have 

been . $1,193,503.34 

The  undesignated  leg¬ 
acies  were .  140,213.01 


Making  total  receipts .  1,333,716.35 

And  leaving  a  deficit  on  September  1st, 

1913,  of . $  197,294.42 

which  is  $338.70  less  than  the  deficit  of  a  year  ago. 

The  increase  of  the  net  appropriations  of  the  Board  have 


kept  about  the  same  ratio  as  the  receipts. 

For  the  year  ending  September  1st,  1893, 

they  were . $  431,531.86 

For  the  year  ending  September  1st,  1903, 

they  were .  678,788.66 

And  this  past  year  they  were  ....  1,333,377.65 


The  members  of  the  Board  have  labored  over  the  prob¬ 
lems  of  the  appropriations  with  the  greatest  conscientious¬ 
ness  and  scrutiny.  Church  people  have  responded  to  the  call 
in  perfect  love  and  in  the  most  beautiful  spirit.  And  we 
know  the  happy  result  is  owing  to  the  earnest  prayers  of  all, 
and  together  all  render  their  grateful  thanks  to  Almighty 
God  for  His  unbounded  goodness. 

It  is  a  blessed  privilege  to  be  allowed  to  make  such  a  re¬ 
port  as  is  this  one.  Fifteen  dioceses  and  eighteen  missionary 
districts  have  completed  their  apportionments,  making  thirty- 
three  in  all  as  against  thirty-two  last  year. 


2,746  parishes  and  missions  have  completed  their  appor¬ 
tionments;  an  increase  of  340  over  last  year,  when  the  num¬ 
ber  was  2,406. 

3,120  parishes  and  missions  have  contributed  but  not  com¬ 
pleted  their  apportionments.  And  the  total  number  of  con¬ 
tributing  parishes  and  missions  is  5,866  as  against  5,742  a 
year  ago,  an  increase  of  124. 

The  number  of  Parishes  and  Missions  that  have  made  no 
offerings  through  the  Board  of  Missions  is  1,278. 

Reserve  Deposits 


The  Board  began  the  year  with  $197,633.12  of  these 
deposits  in  use.  Later  it  was  necessary  to  withdraw  as  much 
as  $200,000  in  addition,  so  that  at  one  time  $397,633.12 
were  being  used  to  meet  the  obligations  of  the  Board.  With 
average  monthly  payments  of  nearly  $120,000  the  Board 
cannot  exist  without  these  deposits  to  fall  back  on,  for  the 
sums  are  too  large  to  hope  of  securing  the  necessary  amount 
in  any  other  way.  It  is  gratifying  to  know  that  all  of  the 
$200,000  borrowed  during  the  first  five  months  of  the  year 
have  been  returned.  The  intention  of  the  founders  of  these 
funds  is  that  when  used  they  shall  be  returned  before  the 
close  of  the  fiscal  year.  The  list  of  the  deposits  is  as 
follows : 


Reserve  for  Domestic  Missions,  from 

Legacies,  etc . 

Reserve  for  Foreign  Missions,  from 

Legacies,  etc . 

The  Ann  Eliza  Tweddle  Deposit,  for 
Domestic  and  Foreign  Missions  .  .  . 

The  “W.  M.  B.”  Fund  for  Domestic  and 

Foreign  Missions . 

Gift  of  a  Friend  in  the  Diocese  of  New 

York . 

Gift  of  Mrs.  Eleanor  A.  Goldsborough, 
deceased,  late  of  All  Saints’  Parish, 
Talbot  County,  Diocese  of  Easton  .  . 


$  19,500.00 
20,912.50 
68,708.31 
125,000.00 
7,500.00 

106,174.43 


From  the  “Bessie  Moorhead  Thomas  Me¬ 


morial  Fund,”  given  by  George  C. 

Thomas,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.  (being 
the  portion  of  the  fund  to  be  used  as 

a  reserve) . $  64,303.37 

Gift  of  George  C.  Thomas,  Philadel¬ 
phia,  Pa .  50,000.00 

Legacy  of  Miss  Alice  Lacy,  Albany, 

New  York .  1,500.00 

Legacy  of  Miss  Mary  Rhinelander  King, 

Great  Neck,  L.  1 .  211,950.00 

The  Cleveland  Keith  Fund,  for  China  only  12,189.48 


Total . $687,738.09 


Central  Expenses 

The  gross  receipts  have  amounted  to  $1,885,995.19.  The 
percentage  of  Central  Expenses  upon  these  gross  receipts 
has  been  for  administration  three  and  one-tenth  per  cent. 
(3-1/10%).  And  for  the  cost  of  making  the  work 
known  and  securing  offerings  five  and  six-tenths  per  cent. 
(5-6/10%).  Last  year  the  percentage  was  three  and  three- 
tenths  per  cent.  (3-3/10%)  for  the  first,  and  six  and  six- 
tenths  per  cent.  (6-6/10%)  for  the  second.  In  other 
words,  this  year  administration  has  cost  eight  and  seven- 
tenths  per  cent.  (8-7/10%)  as  against  nine  and  nine-tenths 
per  cent.  (9-9/10%)  last  year. 

The  Woman's  Auxiliaries 

The  Woman’s  Auxiliary  and  the  Junior  Auxiliary  have 
made  their  usual  magnificent  offerings,  and  the  Church  and 
the  Board  of  Missions  are  grateful  to  them  beyond  measure. 
The  fact  that  the  offerings  of  the  Woman’s  Auxiliary  this 
year  are  a  little  behind  those  of  a  year  ago  is  not  significant. 
This  has  happened  before,  when  attention  was  concentrated 
on  the  Triennial  United  Offering.  You  have  heard  the 
amount  of  yesterday’s  offering.  The  Board  has  learned 


to  depend  very  largely  on  these  great  offerings,  both  Annual 
and  Triennial,  in  support  of  its  work,  and  it  cannot  get  on 
without  them. 

The  Sunday-schools 

Again  have  they  outdone  themselves.  The  loyalty  of 
their  members  to  Jesus  Christ  and  His  cause  is  unbounded. 
Year  by  year  they  grow  in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of 
the  Lord.  Sunday  by  Sunday  they  offer  themselves  to  His 
Service,  and  their  prayers  for  the  extension  of  His  Kingdom ; 
and  their  pleadings  are  answered  a  thousandfold.  The  chil¬ 
dren  now  number  450,000,  and  the  teachers  50,000.  Thirty- 
five  years  ago  was  their  first  offering,  and  it  was  $7,000. 
This  year  it  was  $175,734.71.  We  can  only  say,  God  bless 
them  all,  and  we  pray  that  He  will  guide  them  through 
life’s  journey,  and  that  at  the  last  He  will  bring  them  to  the 
path  that  leads  to  His  throne. 

Grateful  thanks  and  appreciation  cannot  be  too  strongly 
worded  to  those  laymen  in  particular  who  make  it  their  busi¬ 
ness  to  stay  in  their  cities  during  part  of  July  and  the  whole 
of  August  in  order  to  see  to  it  that  at  least  each  Parish  in 
their  respective  Dioceses  sends  something  to  the  Board  of 
Missions  before  September  1st.  The  Church,  thank  God, 
has  many  faithful  servants  and  they  justify  her  existence. 

We  must  not  forget  the  individual  who,  in  addition  to 
seeing  to  it  that  the  parish  apportionment  is  secured,  sends 
directly  to  the  Board  an  offering  that  lifts  the  burden  from 
our  shoulders  which  at  times  weighs  most  heavily.  Thanks 
are  inadequate,  but  they  know  that  we  understand. 

It  is  good  to  realize  that  those  dioceses  that  met  with  such 
disaster  from  flood  and  tornado  last  winter  have  together 
given  more  for  missions  than  the  year  before.  Five  of  the 
six  have  given  more ;  and  one  practically  the  same.  A  larger 
number  of  parishes  contributed  and  a  larger  number  com¬ 
pleted  their  apportionments. 

It  is  four  years  now  since  I  have  held  the  office  I  repre- 


sent ;  and  this  length  of  service  has  given  me  some  knowl¬ 
edge  and  much  experience.  There  are  just  two  things  I 
want  to  say,  and  if  in  the  saying  of  them  one  word  should 
bring  a  pang  to  a  single  soul,  please  believe  that  I  speak 
only  as  the  result  of  my  profoundest  study  of  these  matters. 
My  only  prayer  and  desire,  like  yours,  is  to  see,  by  God’s 
grace,  the  work  of  His  Church  grow  to  proportions  worthy 
of  His  Church. 

Great  achievements  have  been  accomplished  in  recent 
years.  Thank  God  for  that.  But  just  because  they  are 
great,  we  are  impatient  to  make  them  greater.  We  are  im¬ 
patient  to  arouse  those  mighty  latent  forces  which  we  know 
are  waiting.  Is  it  not  time,  after  1900  years  of  Christianity, 
that  Christians  themselves  at  least  be  united  on  the  one 
single,  sole  purpose  for  which  they  exist?  Is  it  not  also  time 
that  no  Christian  should  be  excluded  from  his  privilege? 
There  are  in  the  neighborhood  of  1,300  parishes,  represent¬ 
ing  43,000  members,  which  have  made  no  offering  this  past 
year  through  the  Board  of  Missions.  There  are  many,  many 
thousands  belonging  to  contributing  parishes  who,  because 
they  do  not  think  their  weekly  offering  of  1  cent  or  5  cents 
or  10  cents  worth  while,  make  no  offering  at  all.  These 
latter  entirely  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that,  as  part  of  the 
world’s  great  spiritual  machinery,  by  not  doing  their  part, 
they  hamper  its  effective  operation.  But,  greater  still,  they 
forget  that  the  dear  Lord  is  waiting  to  possess  His  own, 
and  that  He  cannot  do  so  until  we,  like  John  the  Baptist, 
have  prepared  the  way.  Where  lies  the  fault?  Do  we  need 
more  courage?  God  will  give  us  that  if  we  ask  it  of  Him. 
Do  we  need  to  pray  more  earnestly  for  greater  inspiration? 
Then  let  us  pray,  and  He  will  answer  our  prayer. 

I  have  heard  many,  many  sermons  on  missions  and  notices 
given  out,  that  for  spirituality,  inspiration  and  beauty  of  ex¬ 
pression,  could  not  be  excelled.  And  the  hearers  have  re¬ 
sponded  and  do  respond  with  the  complete  devotion  of  their 
lives.  I  have  also  heard  sermons  and  especially  notices, 
when  I  failed  to  see  how  they  could  have  touched  the  heart 


of  the  hearers.  Let  me  quote  part  of  a  letter  a  layman 
sent  me  less  than  six  weeks  ago : 

“It  has  been  a  hard  struggle  and  an  anxious  one,  for  us, 
but  now,  that  we  have  met  and  gone  so  much  over  the  ap¬ 
portionment — nothing  seems  hard  at  all. 

“We  are  more  than  pleased  for  our  Rector,  for  to  him 
is  due  all  the  success  of  the  years  it  has  depended  on  his  ef¬ 
forts — and  I  can  tell  you  he  has  left  no  stone  unturned. 
And  if  every  Rector  would  show  the  same  enthusiasm  for 
missions  as  ours  does,  why  you  all  could  raise  untold  sums.’’ 

My  second  subject  refers  to  Specials.  No  one  is  more 
deeply  appreciative  of  them  than  I — for  they  are  the  special 
sympathy  which  uplifts  and  encourages  our  bishops  and 
clergy  in  their  most  trying  times,  and  bring  with  them  fresh 
inspiration  for  their  work.  Who,  if  they  believe  this,  as  I 
most  earnestly  do,  could  ever  be  accused  of  speaking  against 
them?  But  what  I  beg  to  say  is  this — when  special  help  is 
asked  of  a  congregation,  or  of  a  group  of  people,  or  of  an  in¬ 
dividual,  may  each  be  reminded  that  their  parish  apportion¬ 
ment  has  their  first  claim.  And  after  that  is  met,  the  Spe¬ 
cial  contribution  is  requested.  Surely  this  is  not  too  much 
to  ask  of  our  bishops  and  clergy,  with  the  cold  knowledge 
that,  unless  the  apportionment  is  met,  some  workers  may  pos¬ 
sibly  be  recalled,  or  many  salaries — already  pitifully  small, 
may  be  lowered.  We  of  the  Board  have  had  a  most  anxious 
year  concerning  the  new  appropriations  and  appointments. 

If  this  is  done,  together  with  the  programme  of  giving 
information  which  I  have  just  outlined,  I  am  quite  sure, 
yes,  convinced,  that  presently — very  soon,  I  mean — the  re¬ 
sult  will  be: 

An  apportionment  fully  paid  and  more.  Think  of  that 
high  mountain  of  criticism  that  has  been  raised  up  on 
the  apportionment.  So  high  is  it  and  so  dark  is  its  shadow 
on  one  side  that  our  Lord’s  work  cannot  be  seen  for  the 
blackness.  But  in  meeting  the  apportionment,  as  it  will  be 
met,  this  mountain  of  criticism  will  be  levelled,  and  God’s 
light  will  shine  everywhere.  This  is  no  vision.  It  is  a  fact. 


And  the  Reserve  Deposits  will  be  completely  restored  at 
the  end  of  each  year.  And  they  will  be  ready  to  assist  the 
Board  in  the  new  year;  for  which  very  purpose  they  were 
created. 

Undesignated  legacies  will  be  freed  and  will  be  at 
the  disposal  of  the  missionaries  for  constructive  work. 
$140,000  of  them  this  year  swallowed  up  in  salaries.  Mbre 
than  $3,300,000  of  them  swallowred  up  in  salaries  since  the 
Board  began  its  work.  Think  of  it! 

There  will  be  practically  no  diminution  in  specials,  for 
in  opening  all  hearts  to  meet  the  “blessed”  apportionment — 
I  say  this  in  truth — those  same  hearts  will  be  touched,  and 
will  meet  the  special  need  also. 

Can  we  not  enlarge  our  faith,  and  look  upon  our  work 
with  perfect  hope  and  cheer?  Can  we  not  compel  our 
brothers  to  look  upon  it  thus,  that  they  too  shall  be  pos¬ 
sessed  with  the  same  perfect  hope  and  cheer?  Can  we  not 
even  imitate  that  noble  poet,  who  gives  this  inspiring 
thought  through  “Pippa” — the  little  silk  worker — who  only 
had  one  holiday  a  year.  And  this  is  what  she  sang: 

The  year’s  at  the  spring  , 

And  day’s  at  the  morn; 

Morning’s  at  seven, 

The  hillside’s  dew-pearled ; 

The  lark’s  on  the  wing; 

The  snail’s  on  the  thorn ; 

God’s  in  His  heaven — 

All’s  right  with  the  world. 


Copies  of  this  pamphlet  may  be 
obtained  from 

THE  BOARD  OF  MISSIONS 

281  Fourth  Avenue  -  New  York 

by  asking  for  No.  990 

All  offerings  for  the  Church’s 
work  at  home  and  abroad  should 
be  sent  to  Mr.  Geo.  Gordon  King, 
Treasurer,  at  the  same  address. 


1M.  3-14.  S. 


